Food for the Mind, Body, and Soul

Tag: brownies

Happy 4th of July! I wasn’t planning on writing a blog post today but I whipped up these amazing brownies to bring to a barbecue and I had to share. If you’re looking for an easy, quick dessert to bring to a gathering, try these delectable bites of bliss. This recipe requires having a few very ripe bananas (like the stage before they turn brown) on hand. If you don’t have bananas, try an equal amount of apple sauce or dairy-free yogurt.

Last Minute Banana Chocolate Chip Brownies

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour (I always use whole grain flour for extra fiber in my baked goods, but if you don’t have it, all-purpose flour will also work)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup or agave nectar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use trader joe’s brand)

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or soy milk

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup sunflower oil or almond oil (or you can use vegetable or canola oil if you have those instead)

If you’re wondering about the title of this post, let me explain. I created this recipe while being awake at 6 AM which is just a few minutes past sunrise where I am, and thinking about how I really wanted a brownie. As a nutrition enthusiast, I realize brownies are not an ideal breakfast food, but a girl can dream and dreaming leads to creating. Make no mistake, these definitely aren’t a health food, but using whole grain spelt flour adds a bit of fiber. These brownies aren’t super chocolatey, so feel free to add chocolate chips or something else to add more flavor.

Ingredients:

1 and 3/4 cups of whole grain spelt flour or other whole grain flour of your choice (use brown rice flour to make this gluten free)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

7 tbsp. cocoa powder

2/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 cup dark agave nectar

1 cup unsweetened soymilk

1/2 cup earth balance vegan spread

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Measure dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder) and mix together in a large bowl.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! I’ve decided to make this post short and sweet because it’s beautiful outside and I want to spend as much time with my family as possible today. If you haven’t noticed, my go-to gift strategy for loved ones is baking something delicious, so this morning I woke up early and made a new brownie recipe. If you haven’t yet gotten your dad a gift, consider whipping something up in the kitchen. Baked goods from the heart are always sure to please!

Father’s Day Double-Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 cup soy milk

2 tbsp. melted coconut oil

1/4 cup. soy milk + 1/2 cup raisins (mix together in a food processor to make a thick liquid)

Microwave brownies are an easy way to treat yourself and a great way to exercise portion control. I know when I make brownies in the oven, I’m tempted to eat more than I even want just because I have a surplus of freshly baked goods. If you’re like me, having a single-serving of dessert is an easy remedy for this problem. Not only will the following recipe satisfy your chocolate craving, it also provides some healthy nutrition. Using almond meal is a great alternative to wheat flour or rice flour, the latter tends to be low in fiber and high in carbohydrates. Almond meal is a great source of vitamin E and contains fiber and healthy fats. Using 100% cocoa powder along with dark chocolate chips is a delicious way get some flavonoids that may help you decrease cholesterol and blood pressure over time. Instead of using sugar or honey, using whole dates (just remember to remove the pit before grinding) provides a little fiber (which will slow down digestion and won’t lead to high and then low blood sugar). I chose not to use eggs in this recipe because it tasted fine without them, but if you’re not a vegan and you want a thicker, more solid/cake-like brownie, feel free to add an egg white and microwave as described below.